28 RtD (7) I'll jump to your embrace, holding you and hiding in your shadows.

That night, she lost in daze. Looking at the ceiling in her blurry eyes she seemed blank as if she was hit by the truck. Her mind was in a mess, questioning herself about the Grand Duke daring act. The playground was too excessive to grasp, she didn't want to be in frame with him or how to feel right now. Should she be grateful or afraid in the next moment to face him? Tracing his touch on her swollen lip, a battered place coveted by a wild beast earlier burns her whole body, unrestrained and mad with possession. The feeling of shame, thrill, and powerfully addictive sense twisted her stomach. Her heart still beats crazily while her mind keep replaying Isaac unprecedented act.

"I am screwed !!"

"Milady what's wrong ?"

Selena who saw her dazed state was worried nonetheless because the lady she served is flailing her foot while screaming like a little girl.

Suppressing her inner turmoil, Edith conscious pulled by Selena voice.

"Selena ! Tell me how do I look now ?!"

If words could describe her now, she looks like a boiled shrimp. Her cheeks, ear, and neck was blushing red. Simply lovely and attractive, is what men would assume.

"Milady, do you caught a cold ? Should I call a doctor ?" Selena, in her worry tones reflexively reach Edith forehead, betraying her hopes. 'Maybe, is she dense ?' Edith thought, on the other hand Selena could feel that Edith body was warm.

"No. Anyway, just forget it. I'm just going to rest. You go back to your room and rest for today, there's nothing to do here." calming her erratic heart while patting her chest she sighed.

Just like that, Selena leaves the room. Edith on the other hand was feeling restless and can't sleep until two o'clock in the morning. She didn't remember when was she fallen asleep after counting sheep on her mind.

In the next morning, she seemed absentminded and often dozing off even when she ate with her brother. Contemplating about last night matter, how to wrap this mess nicely.

'Should I go ... or not ?' She thought.

Peeping into his background story, there was nothing wrong with him and in reality Edith could just act like a bystander in all this tale if she was sure that she could stay in the green line, but she wasn't. If her best friend know that she choose to runaway rather than facing it in front face, she would call her a coward.

For her to fancy the crown prince was absolutely nonsense. Putting a spoonful honey inside her ginger tea and stir it slowly.

"Try it brother, it's delicious."

Selena's pouring another cup of tea for Adam's.

"What's bothering you ? You seem disturbed."

Like a caring older brother he was, affectionately asking her. Today's weather was chillier than yesterday, although winter hasn't come, yet they have to warmly dressed with the constant blowing wind in the sea.

"Say Brother, what if you are in a war now, and you were appointed as their strategist then the god grace our troops by getting all enemies information in hand. How much plan you will afford ?"

Furrowing his brows, he stares Edith. Weirdly enough, her body language was too relaxed for someone who asks something like this. Edith was casually sipping her ginger tea with her eyes gazing at the endless sea.

"Naturally, as much as I could plan. You see, information alone won't be enough to seize the war. It's a tool for people to be utilized to grasp the enemy moves, of course its important but the situation in war was constantly changes we had to gradually adapt, preparing counter measures and bring it in our favor. Although, I am not sure why you ask me this, but you make me worried. Is this related to last night ?"

She was a bit mad-like high on alcohol.

Adam's was concerned, seeing him like this made her happy even if she wasn't her real siblings, having someone who's worried about her well-being is always nice.

"Everything is alright brother, I was merely asking for a topic of conversation."

"That's random, Ed... and it's strange for you to ask something like that. Be honest with me, I'll hear you."

"Sure, sure, Brother... Let's just skip this."

She's shrugging her shoulder, trivializing it casually with her low laugh in her joking manner.

Adam's just gave up nevertheless, Edith who saw that smiling.

'Lets caught a back-up plan then.' Gazing at the brewing storm in the unknown future, she had to pull him into her side. Looking at what he could offer, and paid for his favor.

￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣

Entering the room carefully, she saw him working on the table. Reading some reports as if unaware of her presence, Edith casually sat on the vacant seat while jack arranging some refreshment.

She was nervous by being in the same room as him, not only she will be his woman now or more like a secret lover weighing her mind. This news alone could shake an entire empire into a ruckus, added to a fact that she didn't know much about him except for some minor part inside the novel.

As such as he was the Grand Duke Salvatore heir, relatives from royal families, Crown prince future cleaner and although it didn't describe on how their relationship established, it might be because his father gave up on his succession and letting the current emperor reign the empire. He was the neutral faction leader's and a game changer on the chess board, just imagine him to actually plays an active role because of her was unbelievable. But in order to do that, she had to pay the price accordingly.

'Proposing such thing to a lady for a moment of attraction, well... I am as crazy as he was, for agreeing this. It's no use crying over a spilled milk,' she inwardly thought.

Edith takes a cup of tea in front of her, looking at the elaborate dessert on the table shows that the servant doing his job carefully.

Sipping the chamomile tea bring her nerves to slow down as the scent made her relaxed. Focusing on it was better than under his watch.

There are some moment of silence inside the room, only faint sound waves and ticking clock resounding in the entire room. Isaac halted what he was doing, putting the quill abruptly.

He saw Edith on the couch, elegantly drank her tea. She was exceptionally beautiful that her bad rumors in society was simply disastrous to be able to burying her beauty.

"Don't like the dessert ?" curious as Isaac questioning her, walking into her direction and closely sat beside her. He saw her frowned but erasing it almost immediately changing it into her neutral face. "Well... I'll hire your favorite Bakery chef in the future. Yes ?"

Perplexed that he knows Edith favorite dessert, she stares him.

Isaac's who casually fixing her hair, his nonchalant expression made Edith hard to read Isaac thought. His calluses hand tenderly grazing her cheeks. 'Every woman in his embrace before me would have mistaken it for a real attraction.' Although she seemed reluctant but his unique scent comforting her like a warm cocoa served in the morning. She didn't feel repulsive at his touch, maybe because they've kissed already and Edith could see where this relationship would end.

But still, why did he...

"Did you do background check on me ? Ah... No. Never mind." she doubt him.

'It's a normal occurrence inside this world to check on someone information.'

"Can't I ? Are you angry ?" He said playfully at the woman who glares at him, but docile after a few strokes on her head. It was curiosity who led him to this, the problematic young lady was peculiar. Her abundant rumors didn't fit well with her, while her charm was obviously destructive.

hormones.

Long eyelashes, dreamy red eyes, pink colored lips, long neck, an ample breast, slim body, and a healthy constitution not only that she was in reality a talented musician not a worthless young lady. He was drawn to her, maybe sexually or might be not.

Isaac wants her.

Releasing her deep breath, Edith sighed at the good-looking man. He looks like enjoying himself by doing this. Maybe he's categorizing her as a pet already, "I am not. It's fine, but can we write a contract ?" Edith suggesting him. Her pair of red eyes looking at him, carefully studying his expression in hope to find some clues. Did he angry, or did he somewhat feel insulted, but his expression remained calm?

The smile hanging on his face still there but more playful than before.

After so much thought, she saw him as an easygoing person. He often acts as he wished neither care about other opinion, but the novel definitely state that he was ruthless. The way he confronts her both in public and private was different in comparison. Now, He wasn't awkward with touch or a skinship behavior as if he's natural.

"Why you suggest ? Hmm." His smiling never once faltered.

"Do you plan to marry me ?" The hands who stroking her abruptly stopped. She is like a preyed beast in front of its predator "Of course it's a NO, you've said it yesterday. In that case, my suggestion isn't that bad right ?" putting her courage up front she continued, both of them stared into each other eyes.

Peering her deeply, as to read her minds. Isaac golden eyes shone like a jewel as if founding more interest.

"I need alimony too." She is shamelessly state.

Edith firmly believes that this was his simply fling. Although she had to accept that Isaac was an outstanding figure to be seduced, and now she's a bit bitter about it even more to know that this is a contractual relationship.

"Alright. I'll write the contract." He said while flashing his smile, leaning his head and kiss her cheek in a flash. Leaving her dumbfounded and agitated.

'Phew-! What a man.'

Isaac went to his table work, bringing a piece of paper along with an ink and the quill. He took it to Edith side and put it down on the table.

"I'll write the contract first." He said, preparing the quill in his hand to write.

"Sure, I'll write after yours." Edith nodded, watching him start to write on the paper in a paper clipboard on his hand.

-sret. -sret

"Do you hate me ?" he asks without stopping the hand.

"No, I don't. In fact, I am aware of its this much, I've been thinking it in the morning and this outcome passes my mind several times."

Hearing her, Isaac can't help but laugh. He saw her weird looks, as if to tell just why did he was laughing at.

"Haha... To tell you the truth. I am a bit surprised..." He stopped writing, turning his gaze to her. Isaac nonchalant expression is nowhere to be found, switched by his amused looks and happy face. "I've played with several women, and all of them thinks that they could become the next Grand Duchess."

"I guess you're annoyed."

"Very much so. I can be as sweet as everyone you see, just don't step me in the wrong place." He said with scary smiling face.

'Crazyy !! I can't cross back the river!?!'

Isaac gave her the paper, letting her took it. Edith read the contract immediately, and added a few lines for her demand.

The contract said :

[The contract relationship will last for the next four years. Lady Edith G. will be in relationship with Isaac I. Salvatore, in that matter she is prohibited from publishing it directly except for the Grand Duke. She can't demands for marriage nor love, and she is forbidden to use the situation to produce an offspring.

The Grand duke can break the agreement anytime as he wishes and Edith wasn't obliged to refute.

After the break-ups, Lady Edith Geneivre will get to inherit some lands and as her parting gift.

Adding to it, The Grand duke have an obligation to protect Lady Edith G. for as long as they are in relationship, and He had to grant Edith Geneivre one favor after the break-ups.

With this, Both of them are hereby bound by magical contract under the Goddess of Death and shall be punished by an Illness curse for one year if its breached.]

"Do you agree ?" she said after handing the paper.

"Yes, lets sign in right away." Answering her, he signed the paper in glee. In her worries, Edith still following him to signed it.

They stamp it with their blood and the paper burned into ashes.

Both of them sat still in silence until Isaac reach Edith, urging her to take his hand.

"Follow me."

Following him, she let herself be led to be his bed, sitting on top of the bed. "Wait here, ill be right back." Looking at his side profile, red definitely suits him.

Leaving her inside the room, Isaac went outside.

Looking at the room ceiling, Edith lay herself on the bed. Once again she's made to remember that this place wasn't her room. His faint masculine scent permeated from the bed cover,

"is this the famous sleep over at boyfriend room isn't it ?"